Vitamin K plays an important role in the blood clotting process and because the body can’t produce it by itself we have to help him a little. There are many foods with vitamin K in their composition and by consuming them regularly you’ll avoid any problems.

Also known as the clotting vitamin, this vitamin can be found in almost every vegetable. The major source of vitamin K is the green vegetables like kale, spinach and cabbage and next on the list are collards, turnip greens, beet greens and Brussels sprouts. In smaller amounts it can be found in almost every vegetable or fruit, so a healthy diet including those will help you avoid all the problems that are caused by a vitamin K deficiency.

Though it’s preferable for the vegetables to be consumed raw your body will still get a sufficient amount of vitamin K even if you boil, grill or freeze them. Even if you get them in cans from the store your body will still absorb a small amount of vitamin. This way you won’t ever have to take any supplements of vitamin K, unless of course your body can’t absorb it properly.

Cases of vitamin K deficiency are quite rare and they are most common in newborn babies that can’t yet absorb fat and people with liver problems that might need a larger amount. Vitamin K deficiency is linked with the following symptoms, all caused by the blood not coagulating properly: heavy menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, blood in the urine, nosebleeds, easy bruising and gum bleeding.

Though for healthy people, half of the necessary amount of vitamin K is produced by an intestinal bacterium is still important to consume foods with vitamin K from which the body can take the other half. Not consuming green vegetables (which, by the way, most people avoid) might lead in time to a deficiency. If you’re not eating vegetables but in exchange you’re consuming nuts, fruits and mints then you might want to reconsider your diet. Those foods are also known as salicylates and they block the vitamin K. In the same category we have also aspirin, which is commonly known for its proprieties of thinning the blood.

If you didn’t know until now the importance of the vitamin K remember that it takes part in the normal coagulation process, helps improving bone density, prevents the hardening of the arteries and recent studies have shown that it helps in preventing cancer.